Windsorites continue battle for safer crossover in the community
City councilors at The Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee on Feb. 25. Picture taken by Mirjana Janekovic
by Mirjana Janekovic
Citizens and councillors met to discuss pedestrian crosswalks as a part of pedestrian safety on the roads.
The Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee voted in favour of a crossover at Cabana Road and Karen Street during its meeting Feb. 20.
The new crossover at Cabana, which was recently widened to four lanes between Howard Avenue and Provincial Road, would involve flashing lights and painting the street.
On May 26, 2018, four-year-old Lila Jane was struck by a Transit Windsor bus as she ran across the street to Mic Mac Park.
After the accident, more than 3,000 Windsorites joined together and signed a petition for a new crossover at the same location. In June 2018, the City of Windsor made a decision for a new pedestrian crossover for the same location.
“I lived in that area for a while and as a father with three children I can only say that it wasn’t safe, especially for younger pedestrians who are not completely aware of danger on roads,” says Igor Tomich.
Tomich is concerned why a tragedy must take place in order for specific actions to be taken. But thanks to the joint efforts of the community, concrete steps were taken to prevent further tragedy at Prince Road and Barrymore Lane.
The same outcome might also happen for pedestrians and residents who live near Cabana Road East in the vicinity of Roseland Public School where underground conduit for signals was installed during the reconstruction of the road in case the crossing ever meets the criteria.
On May 6, 2018, a petition with more than 85 signatures was received by the city requesting a pedestrian crossover on Cabana Road East at Karen Street and Clara Avenue. Residents raised concerns about pedestrians other than students crossing Cabana Road East at the school crossing at times when a guard was not present. The city’s engineering department had also received inquiries from the office of Brian Masse, Member of Parliament, regarding a pedestrian crossover at this location.
As a response, the city’s engineering department carried out an additional pedestrian count on Aug. 31, 2018 and found that only 11 pedestrians crossed Cabana Road at or near the school in an eight hour period. Based on count, the city department concluded there was no warrant for a pedestrian crosswalk to be installed.
Council believed further study should have been conducted two weeks later.
Currently, two school crossing guards are provided at this crossing for 30 minutes in the morning before the school’s arrival bell time and for 30 minutes in the afternoon following the school’s dismissal.
Based on Ontario Traffic Manual Guidelines, the city’s engineering department determines crossings which meets criteria for pedestrian crosswalks. The Cabana and Karen intersection is not on the list of crossings which meet the criteria to bring it forward to council.
Tomich, a concerned Windsor father, believes residents safety should be a priority.
He was surprised to hear Cabana and Karen intersection did not meet the criteria.
Tomich says the study made by the engineering department is flawed because people feel unsafe crossing Cabana Road without a crosswalk.
“People do not want to risk their lives running from one side of the street to another one especially now when the street has four lanes,” he said.
The city’s engineering department admitted they were not ready for all the questions asked by councillors.
“I am sorry I did not better prepare for this question,” says Josette Eugeni, manager of transportation planning for the City of Windsor.
“The warrants are the warrants, council can do what council wishes to do,” says Mark Winterton, Windsor’s city engineering when asked by council if the criteria could be adjusted a little bit.
"The warrants are warrants, council will do what council wishes to do" – response of Administration to Fred Francis's question about Cabana Road East and Karen Street warrant review #CityCouncil #YQG
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
When a pedestrian feels safe and protected and when their movement is not hampered by poorly crafted pedestrian crossings, their desire for mobility grows, says Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie.
McKenzie emphasize the feeling shown by community actually expressing the fear of crossing the Cabana and Karen intersection pointing out that the low number of people crossing street at the time of counting is actually showing desire in community to cross but they do not feel safe.
“I’m not a traffic expert, but I’m an expert in representing my ward,” he said. “(Citizens) told me explicitly they want to cross at this location. They don’t feel safe. There’s too much traffic and it goes too fast.”
Winterton disagreed with McKenzie.
“People who have signed a petition want to cross there,” says Winterton, without given further explanation why a petition was signed in the first place.
“It is clear that it is needed, and there is even a petition,” says Brenda Clarke, representative of people living at Ford Boulevard and Riverside Drive East, another part of town demanding a crosswalk across the busy street.
She responded in disbelief when Winterton said a petition does not mean people want to cross at the intersection.
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 26, 2019
Clarke came to the the Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee for her third attempt to expresses the clear need for some kind of solution to the potentially dangerous situation at Ford Boulevard and Riverside Drive East. Residents of these areas have reported numerous close calls and pedestrian crossing issue to the city in the last three years.
"It takes a village, as they say, to raise a child, and it takes a crosswalk to keep them safe," says Brenda Clarke pointing out interest in the new colorfull crosswalk idea #CityCouncil #YQG pic.twitter.com/jkvB5drn2q
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
Brenda Clarke present pedestrian crossing issues addresses to the city over the last 3 years. #CityCouncil #JRNC613 #YQG pic.twitter.com/eiCAf8jyyv
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
On Nov. 5 2018 council meeting, it was declared that nothing could be done for the same crossing but a motion for a painted crosswalk was unanimously approved.
“We are so interested in a new colourful crosswalk idea which was announced. It is a quality of life issue whenever residents have their hearts and their throats attempting to cross the street,” Clark says while addressing to the city councillors and the the city engineering department.
Crossing at that intersection is like going to the battle field where a lot of debris can be seen scattered all around the green area. Moreover, it is the main crossing during the summer time when people want to go for a walk by the river, she said.
“It’s a task, we are not trying to exaggerate to make it a fact. If any of these councillors were to go there and see what we are talking about… and it is not just certain time, it is always,” says Chris Clarke, explaining how people are struggling with crossing the street not to mention drivers who are upset when they need to stop in order for pedestrians to cross.
McKenzie pointed out that speeding is also an issue related to the Cabana Road, even more after pedestrian signage has been reinstalled.
“I live in mortal dread that there will be fatal incident,” says Clark stating how happy she is when McKenzie has offered to pay for the crossover with his ward funds, cheering quietly in the hall.
“Yeah, we going to get another crosswalk.”
Even though the request for a crosswalk for her neighbourhood is not approved yet, Brenda Clarke is happy when it comes to the safety of pedestrians in Windsor.
“It is like they are throwing up imaginary hurdles, when they are not any,” she says, referring to the explanation given from the city’s engineering department for Cabana and Karen intersection.
With or without hurdles, citizens and councillors agree that safety on the road should be number one priority for every community.
A decision regarding Cabana and Karen pedestrian will be made by city council by April.
Standing Committee of Environment, Transportation and Public Safety discuss today about a motion being passed for pedestrian crosswalks #CityCouncil #YQG #JRNC613 pic.twitter.com/CS56Uw4vTC
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
@KieranMcKenzie suprised by Administration negative response to his question weather people wanna cross Cabana and Karen, but they don't feel safe. #windsor #JRNC613 #citycouncil
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
@KieranMcKenzie ask Administration is Ontario Traffic Manual recommendation or regulation regarding Cabana Road crosswalk isuee. Answer is given after significant silence "It is a guideline."#JRNC613 #windsor
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
@FabioCostante expressed his suprised that Cabana and Karen did not meet the warrant especially after reconstruction since the traffic has significantly increase. Administration says there is enough signals for pedestrians #windsor #JRNC613 #citycouncil
— Mirjana Janekovic (@MirjanaJanekov1) February 21, 2019
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